Johnson City

History

William Bean, traditionally recognized as Tennessee's first white settler, built his cabin along Boone's Creek near Johnson City in 1769. In the 1780s, Colonel John Tipton established a farm (now the Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site) just outside what is now Johnson City. During the State of Franklin movement, Tipton was a leader of the loyalist faction, residents of the region who wanted to remain part of North Carolina rather than form a separate state. In February 1788, an armed engagement took place at Tipton's farm between Tipton and his men and the forces led by John Sevier, the leader of the Franklin faction. Founded in 1856 by Henry Johnson as a railroad station called "Johnson's Depot", Johnson City became a major rail hub for the Southeast, as three railway lines crossed in the downtown area. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Johnson City served as headquarters for the narrow gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (the ET&WNC, nicknamed "Tweetsie") and the standard gauge Clinchfield Railroad. Both rail systems featured excursion trips through scenic portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains and were engineering marvels of railway construction. The Southern Railway (now Norfolk Southern) also passes through the city. During the American Civil War, before it was formally incorporated in 1869, the town's name was briefly changed to "Haynesville" in honor of Confederate Senator Landon Carter Haynes. Henry Johnson's name was quickly restored following the war, with Johnson elected as the city's first mayor on January 3, 1870. The town grew rapidly from 1870 until 1890 as railroad and mining interests flourished. But the national depression of 1893, which caused many railway failures (including the Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago…

Geography

Johnson City is in northeastern Washington County, According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and , or 0.75 percent, is water. Buffalo Mountain, a ridge over high, is a city park on the south side of town. The Watauga River arm of Boone Lake, a Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir, is partly within the city limits. Johnson City has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with warm summers and cool winters. Temperatures in Johnson City are moderated somewhat by its elevation and proximity to the Appalachian Mountains. Precipitation is abundant, with an average of . Summer is typically the wettest part of the year, while early autumn is considerably drier. Snowfall is moderate and sporadic, with an average of .

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,825
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,371
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  6,421
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,397
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  6,310
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  5,982
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  5,923
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  5,919

Largest nearby schools

• Science Hill High School
  High · Johnson City · 2,401 students · 17.3:1 ratio
• Daniel Boone High School
  High · Gray · 1,211 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• David Crockett High School
  High · Jonesborough · 1,181 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• Liberty Bell Middle School
  Middle · Johnson City · 898 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• Ridgeview Elementary School
  Elementary · Gray · 819 students · 17.8:1 ratio
• Indian Trail Middle School
  Middle · Johnson City · 808 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• Boones Creek Elementary School
  Elementary · Johnson City · 788 students · 16.1:1 ratio
• Lake Ridge Elementary
  Elementary · Johnson City · 627 students · 15.7:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.24 — 2023-06-04
  4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina
• M 2.76 — 2023-05-23
  4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina
• M 2.56 — 2021-11-21
  9 km SSW of Abingdon, Virginia
• M 3.1 — 2021-10-26
  Tennessee-Virginia border region
• M 2.65 — 2021-08-17
  6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina
• M 2.79 — 2021-02-12
  8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee